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CONSIDERING THE NON-IDEALITY OF REBOILERS

IN THE CALCULATION AND DESIGN OF

DISTILLATION COLUMNS

Kari I. Keskinen*1,2, Timo Nyman1, Juha Björk3, Juhani Aittamaa2

1
Neste Engineering Oy, P.O. Box 310, FIN-06101, Porvoo, Finland
2
Helsinki University of Technology, Laboratory for Chemical Engineering and Plant

Design, P.O. Box 6100, FIN-02015 HUT, Espoo, Finland

3
Kemira Engineering Oy, P.O. Box 171, FIN-90101, Oulu, Finland
*
Corresponding author, Tel. +358 10 45 23725, Fax +358 10 45 27221

E-mail: Kari.Keskinen@fortum.com

Keywords: distillation, reboiler, thermosyphon, non-ideality

Prepared for presentation on the 2002 Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, Nov. 3-8

Copyright ã Kari I. Keskinen, Neste Engineering Oy, Finland

11/2002

Unpublished

AIChE shall not be responsible for statements or opinions contained in papers or

printed in its publications.

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Abstract

Reboilers and condensers of distillation columns are normally modeled in

flowsheeting programs as ideal equilibrium stages. However, most reboiler systems in

use today are not equivalent to an ideal stage even in theory. For example

thermosyphon reboilers can correspond to more than one ideal stage or less than one

ideal stage depending on the baffle configuration of the reboiler. These non-ideal

reboiler separations affect the course of the separation in the whole column, and this

effect is significant especially when there are only a few separation stages in the

column. However, this non-ideality of the reboiler is much more significant for the

thermal design of the reboiler.

The calculation method used for the simultaneous solution of the distillation column

and reboiler is reviewed. The implementation of the method to a general-purpose

sequential modular steady state flowsheeting program is also described. The program

used in this study already contains methods for multicomponent plate efficiency by

which the real behavior of all normal plates can be estimated. A similar type of

efficiency factor is utilized also for the reboiler system. An important advantage of

this approach is that it does not alter the solution scheme of the distillation model. The

efficiency factors of the reboiler are updated together with the plate and/or packing

efficiency updating.

Calculation routines for some of the most common reboiler arrangements as well as

some reboiler systems containing two reboilers were implemented. Results of the test

runs using various multicomponent mixtures are described and the importance of the

non-ideality of these common reboiler structures is presented.

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Introduction

Reboilers and condensers of distillation columns are normally modeled in

flowsheeting programs as ideal equilibrium stages. This assumption is acceptable in

the preliminary design phase, but when the final equipment is designed more accurate

values are required. This is also the case for example in revamp situations when the

equipment exists and its performance in new operating point is studied by simulation.

Most reboiler systems in use today are not equivalent to an ideal stage. For example

thermosyphon reboilers can correspond to more than one ideal stage or less than one

ideal stage depending on the baffle configuration of the column bottom sump. This

non-ideal reboiler operation affects the course of the separation in the whole

distillation column. This effect is significant when there are only very few separation

stages in the column. However, the non-ideality and detailed construction of the

reboiler is much more significant for the thermal design of the reboiler. For proper

design of thermosyphon reboiler accurate thermodynamic and transport properties of

the boiling fluids are needed. These properties are difficult to estimate when the

reboiler is modeled as an ideal equilibrium stage.

Thus an accurate calculation method for reboilers is required when the distillation

column and reboiler is reviewed. The implementation of the method to a general-

purpose sequential modular steady state flowsheeting program with capability to

provide all transport properties in actual reboiler conditions is desirable. The program

should also contain methods to estimate the real behavior of the plates and packings

(multicomponent plate efficiencies or mass transfer rates) [3], [4], [5] and [6].

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Reboiler systems

The energy requirement for distillation is provided using a reboiler. The way in which

this is implemented can be one of the following, see also figure 1: Direct steam/vapor

heating, kettle reboiler, thermosyphon reboiler (natural circulation) or forced

circulation reboiler.

When direct steam/vapor heating is used, no actual reboiler exists, but a bottom sump

to provide liquid level for control purposes is needed. This arrangement is quite

common in oil refining and many stripping operations. The column might have

plates, structured or random packing. The vapor entering the column might need a

vapor distributor to eliminate potential maldistribution. Otherwise the separation

performance of column would be degraded. This is especially true for structured

packing; see e.g. Olujic et al. [1].

Kettle reboilers (figure 1d) are very common. If the liquid is completely separated

from the vapor entering the column, then kettle reboiler can be represented with an

ideal equilibrium stage in column calculations. Again, the vapor distributor might

have an effect on the separation efficiency of the column internals. The kettle

reboilers can also be realized inside the column bottom sump using heating coils

(figure 1e) or electrical heating elements etc.

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Figure 1. a) Vertical thermosyphon reboiler, b) Horizontal thermosyphon reboiler,

c) Forced circulation reboiler, d) Kettle reboiler, e) Internal reboiler. Kister [2].

Thermosyphon reboilers have gained more popularity in recent years due to the fact

that the design of the two-phase vapor/liquid flow from the reboiler to the column

can now be calculated more accurately than previously (with better models of two-

phase flow and better prediction of thermo-physical properties). The thermosyphon

reboiler, depending on the baffle configuration of the column bottom sump, can have

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an efficiency that is higher or lower than that of an ideal equilibrium stage. Note that

the two-phase flow must enter the column so that there is enough space for the

separation of vapor and liquid. Otherwise, the entrained liquid drops in the vapor

reduce the efficiency of the distillation column internals at least in the lowest packing

section or lowest plate. A modification of thermosyphon reboilers that operate on

basis of natural circulation (figure 1a and 1b) is to use forced circulation of the liquid

to the reboilers (figure 1c). Forced circulation is used especially when the viscosity of

the liquid is high. Normally, the design principle is such that potentially leaking

equipment should be eliminated and thus the pump in the forced circulation reboiler

is removed if possible and the reboiler system is designed as a thermosyphon

reboiler. This also saves investment costs of the pump and its operating costs. The

efficiency of forced circulation reboiler is similar to that of a thermosyphon reboiler

as necessary baffles and auxiliary baffles in column bottom sump can be installed.

Quite often, when distillation columns are revamped for higher throughput additional

reboiler capacity is needed. This can be accomplished by using an additional reboiler.

This might also be the case for an energy integration revamp. In this article we

review also few of these multi-reboiler column systems.

Efficiency of one-reboiler systems

As was discussed in the previous chapter, the cases of direct steam heating and kettle

reboilers do not need any special treatment for the reboiler efficiency calculation. The

only thing of importance for the separation efficiency calculation is the effect of the

vapor distributor device.

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Figure 2. Different implementations of thermosyphon reboiler.

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Several ways to use a thermosyphon reboiler are shown in figure 2. In principle, these

can also be used for forced circulation reboilers. Once through thermosyphon reboiler

(figure 2a) can be used for heat sensitive bottom product recovery. The amount of

vaporized liquid can be better controlled using circulation (figure 2b). In the case of

figure 2b also some light components might evaporate from the bottom sump as the

lighter and colder liquid from the lowest plate of the column enters the bottom sump

liquid. Case 2a correspond to one ideal equilibrium stage. Case 2b on the other hand

has efficiency less than one.

Thermosyphon reboiler operates better when the liquid level on the column bottom

sump is kept constant. This is achieved using a baffle in the distillation column

bottom sump. In packed columns this compartmental structure of the sump requires

additional liquid collectors. As cases c to f in figure 2 show there are many ways to

utilize the baffle and even an auxiliary baffle can be used. These structures of the

reboiler are not equivalent to an ideal equilibrium stage. Sloley [7] has the opinion

that the case of figure 2f is not useful as the role of the hole in baffle is questionable

and the baffle loses its effect and therefore holes in the bottom sump baffles should

not be installed.

The efficiency of forced circulation reboilers behaves like that of natural circulation

thermosyphon reboilers provided that the liquid circulation in them is small. If the

liquid circulation in a forced circulation reboiler is high, as normally is the case, no

baffles are used and the efficiency of the reboiler is quite close to an ideal equilibrium

stage. With high liquid circulation rate in the forced circulation reboiler it is difficult

to keep the flow over the baffle as constant (Kister [2]).

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The reboiler type in figure 2b was simulated to illustrate the effect of the recycling

flow rate to the separation efficiency and the temperatures of the reboiler. Two cases

were selected, one with low relative volatility (ethane/propane, a » 2.2 ) and one with

high relative volatility (ethane/hexane a » 6 - 12 ). The liquid entering the reboiler

has ethane concentration 10 mol-% in both cases. The results are shown in the figure

3 below. It is seen that high relative volatility and low recycling ratios both enhances

the non-ideality of the reboiler system. Very high recycle to bottom flow ratios are

required to have ideal separation in the reboiler. These high ratios are common with

forced circulation reboilers.

Efficiency

0.8

0.6 ethane/propa
ne
0.4 ethane/hexan
e
0.2

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60

R/B ratio of recycle flow to bottoms product

Figure 3. Effect of recycle flow rate to separation efficiency of reboiler without baffle

(type b in figure 2).

In table 1 the thermal conditions in the reboiler system are given when recycle flow

rate is changed. RF/B gives the ratio of the recycle liquid flow to the reboiler over the

the bottom product flow rate. TB gives the temperature of bottom flow, which is the

same as that of the recycle flow entering the reboiler. Trbout is the temperature of the

outlet flow from the reboiler. VFF is the vaporization ratio of the reboiler i.e. the ratio

of vapor generated in the reboiler over the liquid feed to the reboiler. It is seen that

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low recycling liquid ratio (high vaporization ratio) generates a temperature gradient in

the reboiler, which ranges from 4.3 oC at VFF = 67 % to 0.2 oC at VFF = 3 %.

Table 1. Effect of recycle flow rate to reboiler conditions. Ethane/Propane system.

RF/B E TB/oC Trbout/oC VFF

3 0.6 48.1 52.4 67%
7.4 0.79 50.05 51.9 26%
14.8 0.88 50.74 51.7 13%
29.5 0.94 51.1 51.6 7%
58.9 0.97 51.3 51.5 3%

In table 2 the conditions are given for the Ethane/Hexane case. Here the relative

volatility difference in the reboiler system is very high. The effect of vaporization

ratio to the temperature gradient in the reboiler is thus also very high from about 60
o
C to 4 oC depending on the vaporization range.

Table 2. Effect of recycle flow rate to reboiler conditions. Ethane/Hexane system.

RF/B E TB/oC Trbout/oC VFF

3 0.33 125 184 66%
7.5 0.54 155 182 25%
15 0.7 166 180 12%
29.8 0.82 172 179.5 6%
60.1 0.9 175.5 179.1 3%

Efficiency of multi-reboiler systems

As was previously mentioned it is possible to have multiple reboilers in one

distillation column. If two reboilers with the same temperature are used, they should

be identical and installed in parallel with identical piping and balancing line. The

reboilers can also be installed in series. Some arrangements with two reboilers are

shown in figure 4. According to Martin and Sloley [8] these configurations are the

most common ways to utilize two heating sources at different temperatures. Thus

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these cases are useful in energy integration of processes as lower temperature streams

can be used as heating medium. These two reboiler systems do not correspond to one

ideal equilibrium stage; they can be more or less effective than that. The actual

calculation of multi-reboiler system is even more complicated if additionally an

auxiliary baffle is installed in the column bottom sump.

Figure 4. Some of the most commonly used two reboiler systems.

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Effect of reboiler non-ideality

Normally, in flowsheeting simulations the reboilers of distillation columns are taken

as ideal equilibrium stages. Based on the above discussion this assumption is valid

only for some reboiler systems.

If the column has only few separation stages then the non-ideality of the reboiler

should be taken into account in the solution of the whole column equipment. On the

other hand if the number of the required separation stages is moderate or high then a

small error in reboiler efficiency is tolerable because it’s effect to column separations

is small.

The other point worth considering is the boiling range and temperature of bottom

fluid. If the bottom fluid is pure or all compounds in the bottom fluid have very

similar boiling points then the effect of non-ideal reboiler is only marginal. However,

if the bottom product contains compounds with wide boiling points then large

temperature gradient can be formed in the reboiler. The range of the temperature

gradients depends on the vaporization fraction and the wideness of the boiling range

of the compounds in the bottom.

The different reboiler configurations shown above indicate that much of the actual

distillation hardware must be known for the simulation. This is the case for a revamp

project where the column already exists and is investigated for more throughput or

feed/product quality change etc. On the design of a new column the opportunity to

evaluate various reboiler alternatives gives one a good change for optimization.

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The actual design of the heat exchanger, piping etc. for two-phase flows in

thermosyphon reboiler systems requires a lot of accurate thermodynamic and

transport properties. These are easily obtained when the reboiler system is modeled in

physically meaningful way, which requirement the ideal equilibrium stage assumption

does not fulfill. This subject is discussed later in more detail.

Solution method to account for reboiler non-ideality

The plate column efficiency is most often taken into account using Murphree vapor

phase plate efficiencies. This is defined on the basis of figure 5 as equation 1 shows.

Figure 5. A real plate and an ideal plate.

yn - yn - 1
Emv = *
(1)
y n - yn - 1

The Murphree vapor phase plate efficiency is then used for each plate of the column

and its value is different for each plate and component in multi-component system.

For a binary system the efficiency of both components in a given plate is the same,

but for multi-component systems this is not the case as the mass transfer rates of the

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components deviate from each other. The use of Murphree vapor phase plate

efficiencies is possible in most commercial flowsheeting packages.

Another alternative to handle these non-ideal mass transfer effects is to use rate-based

distillation models, but normally these models yield only the point efficiency of the

plate and do not take into account the flow phenomena on the plate and thus they are

not adequate for large industrial columns. The approach we are using in flowsheeting

program FLOWBAT [3] is different. We use generalized Maxwell-Stefan multi-

component mass transfer model to yield the point efficiency of the plate. This

procedure is well described in the book of Taylor and Krishna [12]. This method and

its implementation into a detailed column simulation program is described by

Aittamaa [5]. The method was further developed to account the efficiency of the

whole plate by considering the flow models of the plate by Ilme [4] and also extended

for packed columns; see Keskinen et al. [6].

In actual column simulations the plate efficiencies are calculated during column

iteration in an additional loop as is described in the figure 6 below.

As we are able to calculate with flowsheeting program FLOWBAT real industrial

distillation columns with plates/packings in great detail (see e.g. Jakobsson et al. [10]

or Ilme et al. [11]) we also introduced a method for simultaneous solution of non-

ideal reboiler systems. By inspecting equation 1 we can see that this definition is not

good for reboilers. The reboiler efficiency for each component i is defined as (reboiler

being numbered as plate 1):

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Constant x in yin Ln Vn
Solve E in

Constant E in
Solve x in yin Ln V n

Test
Covergence

Figure 6. An additional loop to recalculate plate efficiencies during the distillation

column iterations.

yi1
ER ,i = (2)
yi*1

This efficiency is then used in a similar way as the Murphree vapor phase plate

efficiency in distillation column calculations. In addition to using this correction for

each component we must also correct the temperatures (and enthalpies) of the vapor

entering the plate above reboiler and the bottom product.

The solution method for the reboiler system could have been at least one of the

following: a) the column is solved without a reboiler and the reboiler is built as an

external loop connected to the column and containing all necessary flashes and stream

distributors etc., b) the flash and stream dividers are introduced in the distillation

column matrix equations and c) the column is solved as such in a nested two loop

system (Newton-Raphson) where the solution is corrected with the efficiencies and

enthalpies.

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We did not select the first alternative (a), although all the tools are available in any

decent flowsheeting program, as it might be difficult to converge the external loop

connected to the distillation model. Also, the reboiler system has to be modeled for

each case again.

The other alternative (b) would cause problems in the program structure, as there are

so many alternative reboiler systems. Nowadays, the matrix manipulation of off

diagonal elements of the tridiagonal distillation column solution matrix is not a

problem, but the logic for forming these matrices would have been complicated and it

would have been quite time consuming to add new reboiler configurations.

This all lead to the most effective way to calculate the reboiler efficiencies using

alternative (c). This method allows easy modularization of the computer program, as

each of the reboiler configurations is a quite simple network of flashes and stream

dividers. These reboiler models just provide the efficiencies of the reboiler and the

thermal conditions of the flows in reboiler system for the distillation program, which

is not modified in any other ways. It is also relatively easy to add new reboiler

systems. Each of the reboiler systems obtains the flows, pressures and temperatures

from the distillation program and solves the reboiler equation sets simultaneously with

a given specification of the operation of the reboiler yielding the reboiler outlet stream

flows, their compositions, temperatures and pressures. These are then related to the

reboiler stage of the column to obtain the reboiler efficiencies that in turn are returned

for the distillation program. A suitable initial value generation is required and a very

simple one based just on the streams entering the reboiler is sufficient. Björk [9] gives

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more details of the computer implementation of this computational reboiler efficiency

method.

The reboiler systems implemented as modules in flowsheeting program FLOWBAT

[3] are the following shown in figure 7.

Figure 7. Reboiler systems implemented in flowsheeting program FLOWBAT:

7.1 Unbaffled recirculation reboiler
7.2 Recirculation reboiler with baffle
7.3 Recirculation reboiler with baffle and auxiliary baffle
7.4 Once through reboiler
7.5 Once through reboiler followed by unbaffled recirculation reboiler
7.6 Once through reboiler followed by recirculation reboiler with baffle
7.7 Once through reboiler followed by recirculation reboiler with baffle
and auxiliary baffle

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Note that the simulation of unbaffled and baffled (maximum stability) reboiler

systems is identical: The two uppermost reboiler system diagrams (7.1) in figure 7

demonstrate this. In reboiler systems 7.3 and 7.7 liquid between baffles can flow

either up or down. Vaporization in the reboiler sump can take place in these systems

only if liquid flows upward. The program calculates the direction of the flow from the

specifications given.

In order to solve reboiler system one operational specification for the reboiler is

needed. Possible specifications for reboiler systems with one reboiler are stated in

table 3. Correspondingly, possible specifications for reboiler systems with two

reboilers are stated in table 4.

Table 3. Specifications for one-reboiler systems

Reboiler system type Type Efficiency Vaporisation Possible specifications
number calculation and
in figure properties Vapour Reb. Tempera- Reb. outlet
7 curves fraction feed rate ture rise temperature
Kettle / internal - No No - - - -
Once through 4 No Yes - - - -
Recirculation 1 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
without baffle
Recirculation with 2 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
baffle
Recirculaton with 3 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
auxiliary baffle, up
flow between baffles
Recirculation with 3 No Yes Yes Yes No No
auxiliary baffle,
down flow between
baffles

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Table 4. Specifications for systems with two reboilers

Reboiler type Type Reboiler Possible specifications
number
in figure Vapour Reboiler Tempera- Reb. outlet
fraction feed rate ture rise temperature
7
Once through and 5 Once through Yes No Yes Yes
recirculation without Recirculation Yes Yes Yes Yes
baffle
Once through and 6 Once through Yes No Yes Yes
recirculation with Recirculation Yes Yes Yes No
baffle
Once through and 7 Once through Yes No Yes Yes
recirculation with
auxiliary baffle, up Recirculation Yes Yes Yes Yes
flow between baffles
Once through and 7 Once through Yes No Yes Yes
recirculation with
auxiliary baffle,
down flow between Recirculation Yes Yes No No
baffles

It is not possible to specify outlet temperature for the recirculation reboiler with baffle

or for the recirculating reboiler with an auxiliary baffle and down flow between

baffles because in these cases the reboiler outlet temperature is the same as the

temperature of the bottoms product. This temperature is set by column overall energy

balance. Defining feed rate for once through reboiler is not possible because all liquid

from plate 2 (first actual plate above reboiler) is fed to this reboiler and flow rate is set

by column calculations. It is not possible to specify temperature rise in reboiler with

auxiliary baffle and down flow between baffles because the temperature at reboiler

inlet is not solved for in the model of this reboiler.

Example

As an example a deethanizer column is studied. The feed of the column is given in

table 5. The column has 10 plates, partial condenser and a reboiler system that is one

of the following in figure 7: a) Case 7.1, a thermosyphon without a baffle. b) Case 7.2,

a thermosyphon with a baffle. c) Case 7.3, a thermosyphon with a baffle and an

auxiliary baffle. d) Case 7.5, where a once through thermosyphon is used in series

with a circulating thermosyphon with baffle. e) Case 7.7, where a once through

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thermosyphon is connected before a thermosyphon with a baffle and an auxiliary

baffle.

Table 5. Composition of the deethanizer feed.

Component Mole %
Hydrogen 0.827
Methane 0.118
Carbon dioxide 6.0E-5
Nitrogen 0.068
Ethene 6.57
Ethane 0.517
Propene 0.077
Propane 87.3
1-Butene 3.10
Isobutene 0.083
cis-2-Butene 0.012
trans-2-Butene 0.014
n-Butane 0.213
Isobutane 1.09
Heavies 0.002

The liquid feed to the column is about 20 000 kg/h. The partial condenser, from which

a vapor product of 3 000 kg/h is taken out, is set to have efficiency of unity for all

components. The Murphree vapor phase plate efficiency for all components is set to

value 0.7 for plates 2 to 10. Plate 11, which is also the feed plate, is set to have

efficiency of unity. The efficiency of the reboilers in all five cases is determined

during the column solution thus affecting the bottom and top product quality. The

column pressure is 2.1 MPa and the reflux ratio was the same for all cases (3.75). The

vaporization fraction of the feed to each of the reboiler systems was set to the same

value 25 %. The total heat duty for all reboiler systems was practically the same being

about 1900 kW. For two reboiler systems the once through reboiler had heat duty

about 800 kW the rest heat being supplied with the circulating reboiler.

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Figure 8 shows the results of the simulations in relation to the bottom product quality,

i.e. amount of ethane and lighter components in the bottom product.

components in the bottom produc

0.25
Amount of ethane and lighter

0.2

0.15
(mol-%)

0.1

0.05

0
a b c d e
Reboiler system

Figure 8. The bottom product quality expressed as the mole-% sum of ethane and

lighter components of different reboiler systems in the deethanizer distillation column.

Figure 8 shows that the use of a baffle (case b) or the use of a baffle and an auxiliary

baffle (case c) in one-reboiler systems gave better bottom product quality than the

case without baffle (case a). The stability of case c is better and can thus be

recommended over case b, although they perform equally well. The once through

reboiler configuration (case d) perform about the same as cases b and c. The best

bottom product quality is obtained with case e, but this configuration might be

difficult to realize.

Our simulations with systems having more drastic change in the liquid composition in

the reboiler have revealed that there is notable differences e.g. on the bottom product

purity, reboiler feed temperature and logarithmic mean temperature difference in the

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reboiler between various reboiler systems shown in figure 7. The trends in these

values are also into different directions when the vaporization fraction in the

thermosyphon is varied.

Thermal design of reboilers

It is important to generate correct thermodynamic and transport property values for

the detailed reboiler design. For example thermosyphon reboilers might not work

because the natural circulation does not take place as designed due to the fact that the

predicted vaporization fraction is in error. This might have been caused by the use of

ideal assumption of the reboiler resulting in erroneous boiling temperature.

The proper calculation of the required thermodynamic and transport property values

requires the knowledge of the real pressure in the heat exchange equipment. This

requires the value of the liquid height in the distillation column bottom sump and the

elevation of the column with regards to the heat exchanger to obtain correct liquid

hydrostatic head. The liquid density also affects this value and should be taken in the

correct composition, temperature and pressure. Vaporization fraction calculation as a

function of heat transferred requires correct thermodynamic model and the one used

for distillation column calculation is normally a first choice. Properties like vapor and

liquid density, vapor and liquid viscosity, thermal conductivity, enthalpy and its

temperature derivative, i.e. heat capacity in constant pressure, must be obtained along

the heat exchanger. They are normally needed as a function of the heat transferred.

It is a good design practice to check the heat exchanger and two-phase flow

calculations in various operation points of the column. Variations of the feed and

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product purity specifications must be taken into account. Also, the fouling of the heat

exchange equipment must be studied.

When the diameter, length and geometry of the two-phase return flow to the column

are determined, care must be taken so that unnecessary rounding of the pipe diameter

etc. up or down is not carried out. If the pipe diameter is increased then the pressure

loss of pipe changes and this in turn changes the flow phenomena of the pipe. In a

very worse case this may even lead to malfunction of the thermosyphon reboiler. The

pressure loss of the vapor/liquid mixture feed distributor in the column must also be

taken into consideration. It might have an effect on the efficiency of the plate/packing

above the reboiler.

Summary

The ideal equilibrium stage assumption for reboilers holds only for certain types of

reboiler systems. Other reboiler systems deviate form the ideal plate assumption

providing either less or more separation than the ideal plate. This reboiler non-ideality

reflects in the performance of the whole distillation column, but it is significant only

in columns that have only few separation stages.

The effect of non-ideal reboilers is more often encountered when the bottom product

is a mixture of compounds with different boiling points. Then range of boiling

temperature is formed in the reboiler.

This paper gave an overview on the efficiency of different reboiler systems. We

introduced a new method for accounting the reboiler efficiency in distillation

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calculation. Based on our experience it is recommended that the distillation column

reboiler type and its specifications be taken into account in every simulation when

final equipment design or rating is done. Then the overall distillation column design is

more close to reality. For this purpose also the plate and/packing efficiency should be

taken into account. This means that the simulation of distillation needs more input

data from the column internals and also reboiler type and specifications must be

available. In addition to that the simulation would then require or produce more

thermodynamic and transport property data than the coarse distillation concept

screening with ideal stages.

One big advantage of this method is that it allows one to obtain most accurate data

that is needed for proper heat exchanger and two-phase vapor/liquid flow calculations.

This is extremely important in the design of natural circulation thermosyphon

reboilers for systems where compounds of bottom product have wide boiling range.

Symbols

Emv Murphree vapor phase plate efficiency

Ein Efficiency of component i in plate n

ER ,i Reboiler efficiency for component i, equation 2

i Number of component
n Plate number, numbering starts from reboiler
Ln Liquid flow from plate n
RF/B Ratio of the recycle liquid flow to the reboiler over the bottom product
flow rate
TB Temperature of the bottom flow
Trbout Temperature of outlet flow from the reboiler
x Liquid concentration as mole fraction

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xn Average liquid concentration (mole fraction) of liquid leaving plate n

Vn Vapor flow from plate n

VFF Vaporization fraction in reboiler
y Vapor concentration as mole fraction

yn* Vapor concentration (mole fraction) leaving plate n and being in

equilibrium with liquid concentration xn

References

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26